Geneva motor show 2014 - 2014 Audi S3 Cabriolet revealed

This is the Audi S3 Cabriolet, revealed at the Geneva motor show. The A3 Cabriolet is our 2014 open-top car of the year, so this performance model built on the same underpinnings should have plenty going for it.

The four-seat cabriolet gets a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, permanent four-wheel drive and the S tronic six-speed automatic gearbox. All of this means that it does 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. The performance pips the rear-wheel-drive BMW 435i Convertible, thanks largely to the Audi being around 180kg lighter.

The S3 Cabriolet is 2.5cm lower than the standard A3 Cabriolet, and gets chrome-effect detailing on the grille slats, air intakes and front diffuser. It sits on bespoke 18-inch alloys, and has dual twin exhaust tailpipes at the rear. A boot lid spoiler completes the bodykit.

The standard Audi Drive Select system allows the engine and suspension settings to be altered on the move. The steering has also been revised and the brakes are much larger.

Standard equipment includes xenon headlights, air-conditioning, sport seats and a leather steering wheel. Diamond-pattern leather upholstery is available in the options list, along with Audi’s MMI and sat-nav, a 13-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, and LED headlights.

The Audi S3 Cabriolet goes on sale this spring. Standard A3 Cabriolet models cost around £4700 more than equivalent A3 Sportback cars. Applying the same premium for the S3 Cabriolet, we’d expect it to cost around £37,500.